Chants



T. M NICHOLS. ACRANE.

- APPLICATlON FlLED DEC. 21.19l7.

Patented June 24, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. M. NICHULS.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21.1917.

Patented June 24, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I @wi/Immo T. M, NICHOLS.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc. 2I. I9I7.

Patented June 24, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. M. NICHOLS.

CRANE.

APPLICATloN HLED um 21. 1911.

Patented J une 24, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IHIIHI WMe/ao T.' M. NCHOLS.

CRANE.

APPLICAUON FILED DEC. 2x. 1911.

Patented 51u16 24, 1919,.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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THOMAS MILLARD NICHOLS, 0F ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filed December 21, 1917. Serial No. 208,262.

The device forming the subject matter ot this application is a crane, and one object ot' the invention is to provide novel means whereby a truck carrying the working' parts ot' the structure may be propelled,'means being provided whereby a turn table may be rotated, means heilig supplied whereby a grab may be raised` lowered and dumped, the raising' and lowering means being' regulated by `a brake, all ot the instrmmntalities aforesaid being' simple and expeditiously controlled, a single motor being` efi'ective to operate the various movable parts ol the structure.

A further object ot the invention is to improve generally and to enhance the utility ot' devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lit-h the above. and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the. invenlion resides in the combination and arrangement ol parls and in the details of construction hereinafter deserilmd and claimed, il being understood l'hatchang'es in the precise embodiment ol the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope ol what is claimed. without departing' lrom the spirit ot the invention.

1n the. aeeompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig'. 2 is an elevation disclosing the oppo site. side of the device from that delineated in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the complete crane;l

Fie'. 4 is a transverse section taken approximately on the hne 4 4 of Fig. 3;

F 1g. 5 1s a fragmental rear elevatlon vshowing a portion 'of the turn table and parts carried thereby;

Fig. G is an elevation disclosing a clamping device whereby one of the operating lines is held attnnes;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the load grab; and

Fig'. 8 is a diagram showing the circuits.

1n carrying out the present invention, there is provided a. truck trame 1 on which is journaled a driving' axle 2 provided with wheels 3 adapted to traverse rails 4. An axle a is journaled on the truck traine 1 and carries wheels cooperating with the rails 4. The truck comprises a platform 7 to which is secured a base, plate 8 carrying a r rack 9, the teeth of which are vertically disposed. The periphery ot' the base plate S, about the rack l), forms a track 10. The base plate S \vhieh,in substance, constitutes' a part ot' the truck, has a bearing 11 extending' downwardly through the platform 7.

The numeral 12 marks a turn table having' a. bearing 14 eoacting with the bearing 70 1l ot the base. plate S. lVheels 15 are jour' naled on the turn table 12 and engage the track portion 1l) ol the base plate S.

A tubular shat't 1G is journaled in the bearing' 14 ot the turn table 12 and inthe bearing' 11 ot' the base plate 8 and retairs the turn table against lateral movement with respect'. to the base plate.. rThe shaft 16 is supported by a beveled pinion 17 secured to the sha't't and resting on the bearing 14. A beveled pinion 1S is secured to the lower end ot' the. tubular shaft 16 and meshes into a beveled pinion 19 carried by a horizontal shat't 20 journaled in hangers 21 on the truck trame 1. The shaft 20 supports a sprocket wheel 22 about which is trained a sprocket chain 23 eoaeting with a sprocket wheel 2l on the axle 2 of the truck. A brake lever 25, under the control of an 0perator, is fulerumed on-the turn table 12 and like other operatin2g1` levers to be-lmentioned hereinafter, is disposed in accessible relie tion to a seat 28 mounted on the rear end of the turn table 12. The lever 25 is supplied with a latch mechanism 26 adapted to cooperate with a segment 27 on the Iturn table 12. One end of a flexible element 29 is made fast to the lever 25, the flexible elen'ie'nt' extending across a sheave 30 ournaled on a support 31 carried by a turn table 12. From the sheave 30, the flexible element 29 extends 'downwardly through the tubular shaft 16 and is connected with one end ofl a bell crank leger 32 fulcrumed at 33 on the truck 'frame 1: A connection34 is attached to the other end of the bell crank .lever 32 and leads to a brake beam 35, pivotally supported as shown at 3G upon the truck frame 1, the brake beam carrying shoes 37 coop-- erating with the truck wheels 6.

Bearings 42 are erected on the turn table 12, and a shaft 43 is vjournalcd in the bearings and is slidable longitudinally therein. I1`he outer end of the shaft 42 carries a beveled friction wheel 44 cooperating with a beveled friction wheel 4 -5 secured to a vertical shaft 46 journaled in a bearing 47 carried b the turn table 12. A. pinion 48 is carrie by the lower' end of the shaft 46 and meshes into the rack 9 of the base plate 8. A beveled pinion 51 is secured at 50 to the shaft`43 and is adapted to mesh into the beveled pinion 17 which is secured to the upper endv of the vertical shaft 16. The hub of the pinion 51 is provided with a Shift collar 52, to which a rearwardly extended lever 5-3 is pivoted as indicated at 54. The 'forward end of the lever 53 is fulcrumed on a standard 55 carried by the turn table 12, the lever being supplied with a latch mechanism 56, ceacting with a keeper 57 carried by the turn table 12.

A. gear wheel 58 is secured to the shaft 43 andmeshes into a pinion 59 constituting a part of a reversibld electric motor (30 carried by the turn talle 12. The pinion 59 of the motor .60 meshes into a gear wheel 61 constituting apart of a drum 64 carried by a horizontal shaft 62 `iournaled in bearings 83 on the turn table 12. The drum 64 issplined at 65 to theshaft (32, so that the drum may be adjusted longitudinally of the Shaft, the spline constituting means for coupling the drum and the' shaft together for simultaneous rotation. The' numeral 66 designates a rearwardly extended lever .ful-

crumed on a standard G7 carried by the turn table, and provided with a latch mechanism A68 coacting with a keeper9 on the turn table, the lever constituting means for shifting the drum 64 endwise.

A brake disk 70 is mounted on one end ot `the shatt`62 and is engaged by astrap 71, the ends of which are pivoted to the forwardly presented arms 72 of a forked lever 73, fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a bracket 74 mounted on a solenoid magnet 75 ,carried by the turn table 12. The rear end ofA the lever 73 is pivoted at 76 to 'the movable core 77 et' the magnet 75, the core being,r

j provided with a head 78, and there being a compression spring 79 suwounding a por-- tion of the core, one end of the spring abutting against one end of the magnet and'the other end of the spring abutting against. the head 78, the function of the spring beingl to tilt the lever 73 and to apply the strap 71 to the brake disk 70 when the magnet 75 is denergized. l f" A lever 80 is disposed beneath the turn table 12 and is fulcrumed intermediate its ends thereonvas shown at 81, one end of the lever being pivotally connected as shown at 82', with the lower endof the core 7 7 of the magnet 75. To the other end of the lever 80 a vertical actuating rod 83 is pivoted, the same extending slidably through the .turn table 12 and being accessible to a person occupying the seat 28. f

The numeral 85 designates a rheost-at, and a controller is shown at 8G, these members being mounted en the turn table 12. Line conductors 87 are shown, the same representing any suitable source of electric enorgy. The numeral 88 designates a circuit connected lwith the conductors 87 and in# cluding the rheostat 85, the motor and the controller 86. At 89 there appears an auxiliary circuit including aswitch member 90, and a switch member 91, the latter element bein carried by the lever 6G and being mova le therewith toward and away from the switch member 90, so as to open and close the auxiliary l circuit` 89. The

auxiliary circuit 89 includes a controller 86 and the solenoid magnet 75.

The invention comprises a forwardly presented inclined boom 38 mounted at 39 on the turn table 12 and supported by guys 40, the rear ends of which are attached to the turn table as shown at 41. A clamp is mounted on the boom 38near to the upper end thereof, and includesa fixed 'jaw 92 attached to the boom', and having an upstandn rear end 93. A mov-able jaw 94 is dispose above the fixed jaw 92 and is adapted to coact therewith, the movable jaw'beyinfnr connected to the fixed jaw by means of pivotally mounted links 95. A retractile spring 96' extends between the end 93 of the fixed `iaw 92v and the movable jaw .94` and serves to retract the movable jaw out of gripping relation with respect to the fixed jaw. A flexible element 97 is attached to the forward end of, the movable jaw 94 and is extended around/a sheave 98 on the boom `38. From the sheave 98, the flexible ele-A ment 97 is extended downwardly and rear' engaged as shown at 114 around the drum 64. From the sheave 112 the hoisting line 111 extends downwardly to crotch lines 106 connected with the upper ends of levers 107, disposed in pairs, the levers of each pair being1 united, intermediate their ends, by means of a pivotal connection 10S. The levers 107 are provided at their lower ends, with flaws 109. A rider 110 is mounted to reciprocate vertically on the levels 107, below the pivotal connections 108. lVhen the rider 110 is in depressed positionA the levers 107 are prevented. from swingingl on their pivotal connections 108, and the jaws 109 are prevented from opening. When, however, the rider 110 is raised, then the levers 107 may swing apart on the pivotal connections 108, thereby permitting the jaws 109 to drop their load. Tbe'rider 11.0 .is connected to the lower end of a dump line 103, trained across a. shea ve 105 on the boom the dump line extending between the movable jaw 04 of the clamp and the fixed jaw 92 thereof, the dump line being extended rearwardly through the end 93 of the fixed jaw 02 andi being attached as indicated at 104 to the drum 64.

Let it be supposed that it is desired tov propel the truck l-and in this connection it is to be understood that the specific means whereby the axle 2 is connected with the shaft 10 may be varied without jeopardizing the utility of the invention. The lever 66 is swung on its fulcrum 67 so as to move the drum 64 endwise, thereby placing the gear wheel 61 out of mesh with the pinion 59 4of the motor 60. The shaft 43 is n'loved longitudinally by means of the lever 53 until the beveled pinion 51 on the sleeve is in mesh with the beveled pinion 17 on the shaft 10. l/lhen the motor is put into operation, the pinion 59 drives the gear wheel 58, the shaft 43 being rotated, and

rotation being imparted to the beveled pin- Y ion 51.

from the beveled pinion 51 andthe shaft 10 is rotated, the shaft 16 rotating the shaft v The beveled pinion 17 is driven 20 by means of the beveled pmions 1S and 19, the shaft 20 rotating the axle 2 and wheels 3 by mea-ns of the sprocket wheel 22, the sprocket wheel 24 and the sprocket chain or by any other equivalent mechanism. in this way, the truck 1 may be moved forwardly and rearwardly along the rails 4. lll/'hen t is desired to apply the brakes to the wteels e, the lever is inanii'mlated, the element 29 riding over the sheave and i'i'ioving; longitudinally in the tubular sha1:AI 1.0, the bell crank lever 32 being tilted on uleruin 33, and the connection 34 the brake beam and the shoes 37 se latter elements eoperate with the siii-.issie 5. 7llhe p'articular mechanism which .interposed between the lower end of the flexible element 29 and the brake shoes 37 may be changed without materially impairing the utility of the machine, considered' generally.

Let it be supposed that it is desired to rotate the turn table 12. Then the shaft 43 is moved longitudinally by means oi' the lever 53 until the beveledpinion 51 is out of mesh with the beveled pinion 17, the fricvtion wheel 4i being brought into engagement with the friction wheel 45. Motion is now transmitted from the motor pinion 5l) to the gear wheel 5S, the shaft 43, the lriction wheel 44, the friction wheel 45, the shaft 4G and the pinion 48, the latter element coacting with the rack 9 on the base plate 8 on the truck, to cause a rotation otl the turn talble 12, with the shaft 10 as an axis of rotation, the wheels 15 on the turn table 12 rolling in contact with the track portion 10 of thebase plate 8.

The means whereby the truck 1 is propelled, the means whereby the turn table 12 rotated, and the 'means whereby the brakes 37 are applied, have Ibeen discussed, and the operation of the hoisting line 111 and the dump line 103` will now be dealt with.

The shaft 43 is moved endwise by means ol the lever 53 until the friction wheel 44. is out of engagement with the friction wheel 45 and until the beveled pinion 51 is out oi mesh with the beveled pinion 17 on the shaft 16, the parts being shown in these positions in Fig. 4.

The drum 64 is moved endwise on the shaft 62 by the lever (56, until/ the gear Wheel ($1 on the drum is H1 mesh with the motor pinion- 59, The lever G0 carries the switch member 01 into engagement with the switch member 90, the circuit 89 lbeing closed eX- te'riorly ofv thecontroller 86; controller 8G is manipulated, current flows through the circuit 8S) and energizes the magnet v75, the core 77 moving, responsive to the nlagnet 75, and overcoming the action of the spring 79, thei'unetion of which is to keep the brake strap 71 normally applied tothe disk 70. lNhen the action of the spring 79 is overcome as aforesaid, the lever 73 is tilted, and the hold of the brake strap 71 on the disk 70 is released, the shaft 62 and the drum 04 being set free for rotation. By the aforesaid manipulation of the controller 8G, th'e',l,circuit 88 is closed land the motor 60 is energized, the pinion 59 and the gear wheel 61 imparting rotation to the drum 64 and reelingin hoisting line 111 and the dump line 103. As soon as the circuits 88 and 89 are opened by a proper manipulation of the controlleil 86, the motor 60 stops, the shaft 62 and the drum 64 no longer are rotated, the magnet/75 is denergized,

the spring,` 79 reasserts itself, and the lever i When the '76 applies the brake strap 71 to' the disk 70 on the shaft 62, thus holding the load elevated. In order to lower the load, the lever 80 may be tilted by means of the actuating rod 83, the ,obre 77 of the magnet 75 being drawn downwardly, against the action of the spring 79, the lever 73 being tilted on its ulcrum 74', and the hold of the brake strap 61 on the disk 7 0 being released. From the foregoing it will be obvious that since the motor 60 is reversible, the hoisting line 111 and the dump line 103 may be reeled on the drum 64 and may be paid ofi the drum, the levers 107 andthe load carried by the jaws 109 being raised and lowered, as

occasion may demand.

Let it 'be supposed that it isdesired -to dump the load which is carried by the jaws 109. The spring 96 draws the movable jaw 94 rearwardly, so that the dump line 103 is not normally gripped between the jaws 92 and 94. The operator manipulates tho lever 100, thereby drawing the iexible' element 97.

rearwardly over the sheave 98, the upper end of the flexible element moving forwardly toward the slieave 98, thereby drawing they movable jaw 94 downwardly and forwardly so that the dump line 103 is gripped between thev jaws 92 and 94, the spring 96vbeing put under tension, and the links 95 permitting the movable jaw 94C to haveftlie necessary movement with respect to the fixed jaw 92. This operation holds the dump line 103. The

drum 64 may now be rotated by ymeans of the pinion 59 and the gear wheel 61, to pay the hoistin line 111 o the driim to a slight extent, the ioisting line running out a trifle over the sheave 112, and permitting the levers 107 and the jaws 109 of the grip to move downwardly. Since the dump line 103, being held between the jaws 92 and 9 4,

does not participate in this downward movement, the rider 110 will not move downwardly the lower ends of the lever 107 sliding downwardly through thek rider and permitting a separation ofthe aws 109, thereby dumping the load. 59s soon as the lever 100 y is operated to release the ilexible element 97,

the spring 96 reacts on the movable jaw 94 and draws the same rearwardly, the dump f ,line 103 being set free. I

1Whatis claimed is t 41. In a crane, a truck; a propelling means on the truck; a turn ta'ble journaled on the truck; means fior rotating the turn table; .a reversible-m0tor on the, turn table; mecha'- nism continuously drivenby the motor and bodily movable alternatively into and out of engagement with the .means for rotating the turn table, and into and out of engagement with the propelling means; and a windingmeans on the turn table, the winding means including a part movable into and out ofy coperative relation tothe motor.

2. In a craneLa truck; a turn table journaled on the truck; means for rotating the l turn table; a reversible electric motor on the turn table; ya propelling means on the truck;

driven means cooperating with the 'motor and shiftable to coact at di'ere'nt times with the propelling means and with the means for l,

rotating the turn table;- a windingdevice onthe turn table and comprisingv relatively ,movable members, one of which. is-movablel into and out of cooperative relation 'to the 5' motor ;y mechanism underthe 4control of "an operator for moving said'member into and outl 'of coperativ relation to themot'or; a A

brake controlling the other member-'of the winding device; a motor circuit; means inv thecircuit for operating the 4bra-ire; anda vswitch inthe circuit, operated by said r'n'ecl- 3. In. a device oi the class described, a

support; a boom carried by the support; a

winding device'on the support; a grab; a "Y l releasing device controlling the grab; a

clamp on the boom; a hoisting line trained across the boom and connected to the grab and to the winding device, the hoisting line being independent of theclamp; adump line controlled 'by the clamp and trained' across the boom, the dump line being oonnected to the releasing device and to the winding device; and means under the control of an operator for manipulating the clamp. y

4. In a device of the classv described, a supn port; a boom carried by the support; a winding device on the support; a grab; a releasing device controlling the grab; a clamp on the boom, and including a movable member;

a hoistin line trained across the boom andl connecte to the grab and to the winding device, the hoisting line being independent of the clamp; a dump line within the con- 'trol of the movable member of the clamp and trained across the boom, the dump line being connected to the releasing device and to the winding device; yieldable means for moving the movable member 'of the clamp in one direction, torelease the dump line; and meansunder the control of ai'operator and connected with the movable member of the y clamp for moving thesame if'. an opposite the dump line beingY comieeted to the releas ing device :1nd to the Winding` device; a spring" eonneei'ed with the movable member of' the clump :1nd constituting means for retract-ing the movable member of the clump to release the (lmnp line; u, flexible element connected at one end te the forward end el the movable member of the clump, the flexible element being extended forwardly around the boom :rnd rearwardly to the support; and means on the support und connected with the flexible element, for draw- SLE,

ing the flexible element rearwardly, thereby to advance the movable member of the cla-mp and to cause the movable member of the clump to grip the dump line.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS MILLARI) N ICIIIJS.

lVitnesses SmmoN S. WILLIS. C. E. BRUCE. 

